Machine for wiring bottles.



No. 632,|74. Patented Aug. 29. I899. R. M. &. C. E. CHAMBERS. MACHINE FOB wm'ma BOTTLES.

(Applicationflled Apr. 29, 1899.)

I6 Sheets-Sheet I,

(No Model.)

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A ITORNEYS no: NORRIS PEYERS co, PHOTO-LIYBO. wnsumnwu, u. c.

Nu. 632,!74. Patented Aug. 29, I899.

- B. M. & C. E. CHAMBERS.

MACHINE FOB WIRING BOTTLES.

l/ (Application filed Apr. 29, 1899.;

(No Model.) l6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

N0. 632,I74 Patented Aug. 29, I899. R. M. &. C. E. CHAMBERS. MACHINE FDR WIRING BOTTLES.

I (Application filod Apr. 29, 1899. (No Model.) I6 Sheets-SheeI 3.

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Patented Aug. 29, I899.

a. m. &. 0.1a. CHAMBERS. MACHINE FOR WIBINQ BOTTLES.

(Application filed Apr. 29, 1899.)

' l6 Sheets-8heet 4 (No Model.)

.w w M N an N A TTORNE Y8 m: nanms anal-:s co.. nnorauma, wmumnmu. a c.

Patented Aug. 29, 1899. R. M. &. C. E. CHAMBERS.

MACHINE FOR WIRING BOTTLES.

Application filed Apr. 29. 1899.; (No Model.) l6 SheetsSheet 5.

1N YEA/T088.

WITNESSES: (524 Z 252/ A T'TORNEYS 1m: NDRNIS rams ca. vwofoumo. WASHINGTON, n. c.

Patented- Aug. 29, I899.

B. M. & C. E. CHAMBERS. MACHINE FOR WIRING ,BGT TLES.

(Application, filed Apr. 29, 1899.)

I6 SheetsSheet 6 (No Modal.)

wmvssses (52A Ja/r A TTORNEYS No. 632,!774 Patented Aug. 29.1899. 8. M. & C. E. CHAMBERS.

MACHINE FOR WIRING BOTTLES.

Application filed Apr. 29. 1699.; (No Model.) 16 Sheets8heet 7.

WITNESSES:

TNE NORRIE PETERS CO, PMOTO-L1YHO. wHlNGTON, D. I.

N0. 632,|74. Patented Aug. 29, I899. R. M. &. C. E. CHAMBERS;

/ MACHINE FOR WIRING BOTTLES.

(Application filed Apr. 29. 1899,,

I6 Sheets-Sheet 8,

f we Model.)

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v No. 632,!74. Patented Aug. 29, I899. n. m. & c. E. CHAMBERS.

MACHINE FOB WIRING BOTTLES.

(Application filed Apr. 29. 1899.)

A TTORN E YS N0. 632,|74. atented Aug. 29, I899.

P R. M. & 0. E. CHAMBERS.

MACHINE FUR WIRING BOTTLES.

Application filed Apr. 29, l899. (No Model.) l6 Sheets-$hee1 ll 1 5 IN VENTORS. WWW mfmwt m ATTORNEYS Tn: manms vz'rzns co. mommma. msmuutrou. o c

Patented Aug. 29, I899.

(Application filed Apr. 29, 1899.) (No Model.) I6 Sheets-Sheet l2.

Ma E Ti J0 INVENTORS.

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A TTOFNE YS Patented Aug. 29, I899.

R. M. 81. C. E. CHAMBERS.

MACHINE FOR WIRING BOTTLES.

(Application filed Apr. 29, 1899.)

I6 SheetsSheat |3 (No Model.)

IN vE IV T OHS.

- A TTORNE VS THE mums PETERS co. PHOYO-LIYHQ. WASHINGTON, n. c.

No. 632,174. Patnted Aug. 29, I899.

R. M. &. C. E. CHAMBERS. MACHINE FOR WIRING BOTTLES.

(Application filed Apr. 29, 1899., (N0 Mode") I6 Sheets-Sheet l4,

mla' llll No. 632,!74. Patented Aug. 29, I899. B. M. & C. E. CHAMBERS.

MACHINE FOR WIRING BOTTLES.

(Application fll'ed. Apr. 29 1899.)

- l6 Sheets-Sheet |5 (No Model.)

M ATTORNEYS THE Nonms PETERS co, wow-Luna wAsmuGroN. n. c

No. 632,!74. Patented Aug. 29, I899.

R. M. & C. E. CHAMBERS. MACHINE FOR WIRING BOTTLES.

(Application filed Apr. 29, 1899.) (No Model.) [6 Shepts-$heat l6.

[m m 4 W THE yams PE'ERS co. PNOYD-LITKO WASHINGTON. mc.

NiTnD STATES PATENT Fries.

ROBERT MARTIN CHAMBERS AND CHARLES ED\VARD CHAMBERS, OF BELFAST, IRELAND.

MACHINE FOR WIRING BOTTLES.

I SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 632,174, dated August 29, 1899.

Application filed April 29, 1899. Serial No. 714,971. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT MARTIN CHAMBERS and CHARLES EDWARD CHAM- BERS, engineers, subjects of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Cuba street, Belfast, in the county of Antrim, Ireland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Machines for Wiring Bottles, (for which we have made application for Letters Patent in Great Britain, No. 13,803, dated June 21, 1898,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for tying the corks of mineral-water and like bottles by means of wires; and it has for its, object to construct a machine, preferably driven by power, which is capable of performing the whole process of tying the cork in the bottle, including, first, the placing of a capsule of wood or other substance between the cork and the wire-tyiu g to prevent the wire cutting into the cork; secondly, at the same time pressing the cork firmly into the bottle, thereby compressing the cork and insuring a tight tying and driving the cork back if it has come out slightly between the corking and tying operations, and, thirdly, forming a loop on the twisted end of the wire for the purpose of removing it when desired, the whole operation being performed automatically, the placing of the bottle into the holder being sufficient to start the machine, which stops automatically when that bottle is finished until the next bottle is placed or falls into the holder, when the whole operation is repeated, the machine being so constructed that the finished bottle is delivered in such a position that it does not interfere with the next bottle as it comes into the bottle-holder.

The invention consists of a machine comprising several sets of mechanism to accomplish the objects hereinbefore referred to,

which sets of. mechanism are hereinafter de scribed as applied.

The machine hereinafter described is designed to use preferably four separate wires; but three or any other suit-able number may be employed, if desired.

The several sets of mechanism which together constitute a machine constructed according to the invention may be classified for sake of clearness as follows: first, mechanism for manipulating the bottle; second, wiring mechanism, and, third, capsulingmechanism. The first of these sets comprises (a) starting mechanism operated by the weight of a bottle, (17) mechanism for raising the bottle to a suitable position for Wiring, and (c) mechanism for delivering the'bottle after wiring. The second set comprises (a) mechanism for regulating the tension of the wires, (1)) mechanism for feeding and looping the wire, (a) mechanism for guiding some of the wires onto the neck of the bottle, (d) mechanism for twisting and cutting the wire, and (e) mechanism for pressing the projecting ends and loop of wire against the neck of the bottle after the wiring has been completed. The third set comprises (a) a container or reservoir for capsules, (b) a delivery mechanism, and (c) mechanism for placing and temporarily holding a capsule on the bottle-cork, which mechanism also serves to compress the cork in the bottle.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figures 1 and 1 are part front elevations of the complete machine. Figs. 2 and 2 are part side elevations, and Fig. 3 is a plan, of the same. Figs. 3 to 35 are detail drawings of the different devices or mechanisms which together constitute the complete machine. Fig. 3 is a partial end View of the machine, illustrating the starting-gear, of which Figs. 5 and 6 show details. Fig. 4 is a View illustrating the bottle-raising gear. Figs. '7 and 8 are elevations of the wire-cutting mechanism in its inoperative and operative positions, respectively. Fig. 9 is a planet the wire twisting and cutting mechanism in the position occupied just after a bottle has been wired. Fig. 9 is a plan of the looping mechanism. Fig. 10 is a plan of the tension-gear,

bottle-delivery mechanism, and the devices employed for applying the wooden capsules. Fig. 11 is a sectional view of a detail shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a plan of the bottle-delivery mechanism and capsuling devices in the position occupied just after a bottle has been delivered. Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation corresponding to Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a transverse sectional elevation of the bottledelivery mechanism with a bottle in position. Figs. 15 and 16 are detail views relating to the capsuling mechanism. Fig. 17 is a sectional elevation of the mechanism employed to draw the two lower wires aside to allow the bottle-neck to pass between them, the mechanism being shown imits position ready to draw the wires aside. Fig. 18 shows the same mechanism, but in the position occupied after the wires have been released. This view also shows in sectional elevation the device employed for placing and holding the capsule on the bottle-cork. Fig. 18 is a detail plan, on the same scale, illustrating the action of the mechanism shown in Figs. 17 and 18.

Figs. 19 to 26 are detail views illustrating the wire feeding and looping mechanism. Figs. 27 and 28 are respectively elevation and plan of the mechanism employed for pressing the projecting ends and loop of wire against the bottle-neck after the wiring has been completed. Fig. 29 is a detail view relating to Fig. 27. Figs. 30 and 31 are respectively seetional elevation and plan of the mechanism employed for placing a capsule on the bottlecork. Figs. 32 to 35 are the developed plans of the several cams hereinafter referred to.

In all the figures similar parts areindicated by similar letters or figures of reference.

The machine is driven by a belt on a pulley 1, which runs loose on the driving-shaft2 when the machine is at rest, but is arranged to be keyed to the shaft and drive the machine as soon as a bottle is placed in the machine ready to be wired.

The mechanism forstarting the machine is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 2, 4, 5, and 6. The pulley 1 runs loosely on a sleeve 3, which is keyed to the driving-shaft 2. The sleeve 3 has a collar 4,'through a hole in which a key 5 slides under the action of a spring 6 to engage with a slot 7 in the boss of the pulley 1, thereby securing the pulley to the shaft 2. The withdrawal of the key 5 causes the machine to stop, and it is accomplished by means of a wedge which is made to engage in a slot 9 in the key and force it out of engagement with the pulley. The wedge is formed on one end of a lever 8, pivoted upon the machineframe. A link 11 is attached to the other end of the lever 8, and the weight of this link when allowed to act upon the lever is sufficient to bring the wedge into engagement with the key 5 and stop the machine. The lower extremity of the link 11 is formed with a slot 12, in which engages a pin on a short crank-arm 18, which oscillates with the same shaft 10 as a heavily-weighted lever 13. The lever 13 is normally held suspended, as shown in Fig. 4, by a latch 14 engaging with a catch 15 on the lever. The latch 14 is fixed on an adjustable bolt 16, sliding vertically againsta spring 17. When a bottle is placed on a support 18, hereinafter referred to, it depresses a rod 19, attached thereto, which comes in contact with the sliding bolt 16, and thereby depresses the latch 14 and releases the weighted lever 13. The latter in falling oscillates the shaft 10 and the arm 18, raises the link 11, and thereby withdraws the wedge 8 from the key 5, which immediately engages with the pulley 1 and the machineis started. The link 11 is temporarily detained in its raised position by a catch 19 engaging in a slot 20 in the link. The catch 19 is withdrawn at the proper moment for stopping the machine by a pivoted lever 21, operated by a cam a. The weighted lever 13 is raised toit-s normal position by a rod 23 at the upper part of the upward stroke of the lifting-bracket 24. The rod 23 permits of the initial movement of the bracket 24 and is lifted by the engagement of the bracket with the nut 231 at the upper part of the upward stroke, the slot 12 allow ing the lever 13 to move upward without disturbing the link. It will therefore be understood that the machine is started by a bottle being placed upon the bottle-support 18 and that as the cam a is set to release the catch 19 as soon as the wiring operations are completed and the bottle is delivered the machine will automatically stop and remain at rest until another bottle is placed on the sup port.

To raise the bottle to the wiring position, a bracket 24 is provided, capable of sliding vertically on acolumn 27, the bracket being preferably raised and lowered by means of the cam h acting through the lever 20 and the link 29 on the duplicate toggle-levers 25, one pair of which we preferably attach at their lower ends to the plunger and spring 30, Fig. l, which relieves any excess of pressure on the frame should any of the bottles be slightly longer than their fellows. The upper ends of the other pair of levers 25 are pivoted to the bracket 24. Attached to the brackets 24, but capable of vertical adjustment therein to suit different lengths of bottles by means of the screw 31 is a slide 32. A lateral table 33 is provided at the upper end of the slide and a lateral ledge 331 at the lower end, while a tube 38 is fitted so as to connect them and carries within it the rod 19 of the starting mechanism, previously referred to. Brackets 35 are provided upon the table 33, which are preferably four in number and serve to carry gripping-levers 34, Whose extremities 36 are acted on by the weight 37. This weight has a free vertical movement on the tube 38, and an upward movement of the weight simultaneously opens the gripping-levers 34. When the lifting-bracket 24 is lowered, a catch 39, Fig. 1, comes in contact with the weight 37, raising it relatively to the slide 32 and the table 33 and opening the grip jiing-levers, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. As the bottlelifting bracket 24 rises the weight 37 is raised with it away from the stop 39, when it is carried on the ends 36 of the bell-crank grippinglevers 34, forcing them together on the bottle placed between them, as shown in Fig. 4. On the table of the slide 32 is a block 18, before referred to, which is shaped to fit the the bottle to fall.

bottom of a bottle. A rod 19 depends from the block 18, and when the bracket 24 is at its lowest position it comes in contact with the adjustable bolt 16, the block 18 being raised slightly above the table 33. WVhen a bottle is placed between the grippinglevers, its weight, acting through the rod 19, presses the adjustable bolt 16 and releases the weight 13 of the starting-gear,as hereinbefore described. The cam his so formed that the bottle is lifted and lowered at the proper time. sition of the cam indicated in Fig. 4 the slide 32 and bracket 24 have just arrived at the upward position.

The bottle when wired is removed from its support and delivered to a chute or receptacle by means of the delivery mechanism illustrated in detail in Figs. 10, 12, 13, and 14. A bracket 40 is mounted upon a spindle 41, on which is a pinion 42, deri ring its motion from a rack 43, operated by suitable levers 44 441 from the cam (Z, Fig. 3. The levers 44 441 are each secured to a spindle 442, mounted in abracket secured to the machine-frame. The cam d causes the bracket to oscillate with its spindle, as indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 10. The spindle 41 is mounted within brackets 541 and 542, provided upon the machine-frame. (See Fig. 1.) Two jaws 46 are hinged on extensions 47 of the bracket 40. They are so shaped that the opening between them is a free fit for the neck of a bottle just below the collar, but not large enough to allow the collar to pass through. The jaws 46 are free to move upward on their hinges at all times, but are normally prevented from falling downward by small levers 48, Fig. 13, which are held in the horizontal position, at which they prevent the jaws from falling by means of a spring and plunger 49 acting on a small lever 50, keyed to a spindle 51, carried within the bracket 40, on which spindle the levers 48 are also keyed. The levers are depressed when the bracket 40 is brought to the position at which the bottle is delivered. This action releases the jaws 46 and allows The position at which the bottle is delivered is a little in the rear of that indicated in Fig. 10, the parts being disposed as illustrated in Fig. 12. The release of the jaws 46 is effected by a lever 52, pivoted to the bracket 40 at 53, and as the bracket 40 swings around the extended end of the lever 52 comes in contact with the pin or roller 54, provided upon the bracket 541, Figs. 2 and 3, which moves that end of the lever outward, pressing in the plunger 49, which depresses the lever 48, and thereby allows the jaws 46 to drop and deliver the bottle into a chute or receptacle, as illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13.

In Figs. 3 and 10 the bracket 40 is shown as about to move into position centrally below the capsule-lifter, hereinafter described, the pin within the cam-slot of the cam d moving outwardly, as is indicated in Fig. After the bottle is released the bracket 40 moves still farther out to receive a capsule, as after In the potinu es to descend the bottle is drawn from the 4 holders 34.and carried around and dropped, as above described. The jaws 46 are supported by the levers 48 in such a manner that the full strain of pulling the bottle from between the levers or holders 34 does not come directly upon the end of the lovers, and for the purpose we provide suitable catches 55, attached to the under side of the jaws 46. When the jaws 46 are in the horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 14, the catches press against the sides of the levers 48, thus entirely relieving them of downward pressure.

The wires used in tying the corks are fed from reels 161, situated upon some convenient part of the machine-framework, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. They pass through a device (illustrated in detail in Figs. 10 and 11) which is designed to apply a tension to the wires as the capsule-lifter descends to secure a capsule and also during the twisting operation, afterward described,and to release the wires when they are required to be fed forward.

Fourboxes 56 are provided, one for each wire, each box having a wedge-shaped piece 57 fitted within it, one side of the box being form ed with the same angle as the wedge, the other forming a face against which the face of the Wedge can grip the wire, the wedge being held in the gripping position by a spring 58 acting on a pin 59,attached to the wedge. The boxes 56 slide on the bars or guides 60, fixed in a bracket 61, attached to the frame of the machine. The boxes 56 are acted on by springs 62, which when the wire is gripped by the wedges incline to keep the wire in tension. A sliding piece 63,free to move independently of the boxes, slides on the guide-bars 6O under the action of a cam b, Fig. 3, through the lever 64 and is for the purpose of compressing the springs 62 and also for pressing the pin 59 against the stop 65, which compresses the springs 58 and releases the wedges 57, leaving the wires free to be drawn through the boxes, as shown. When the sliding piece 63 is moved away from the tension-boxes 56, they follow under the action of the tensionsprings 62 and draw the pins 59 out of contact with the stop 65 and allow the grippingwedges to catch the wires, which will then be put into tension by the tension-spring 62. The wires are thus allowed to travel freely through the tension-boxes or a tension put on them when desired, the cam being suitably formed to apply tension or to remove it at the proper moment. As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 32, the cam-operated lever 64 is moved laterally when the pin within the cam-slot reaches the position indicated at 202, Fig. 33, and

thereby tension is put'upon the wires while the capsule-lifter descends to secure a capsule. The cam-operated lever then returns, and the pin within the cam-slot reaches the position indicated at 201, and the tension is thereby released. The cam operated lever again moves forward by the diversion of the slot at 200 and the tension is again immediately put upon the wires while the twisting movement is effected. The cam-operating lever then again returns and releases the tension.

The mechanism illustrated in Figs. 9 and 19 to 20 is for the purpose of catching the wire and drawing it across the portion of the machine which is occupied by the bottleneck when it is being tied and also for forming a loop onthe tying to facilitate the removal of the wire when desired. Referring to Fig. 9, which shows the mechanism in the position occupied on the completion of a tying operation, a pairof pointed hooks are pivoted at (57 to a spindle (5S and are so formed that they are inserted behind the twisted end of the wire at the spindle G9, hereinafter described, when acted on by the catches 70, Figs. 19 to 20. The catches press against the block of the hooks and close them when the sleeve 71, to which they are attached, is moved forward, and they catch against the small piece 72 on the hooks 66 and force them open when the sleeve 71 is drawn back. In addition to these hooks we provide two jaws 73 73, each pivoted to the spindle 68 at the points 691 and at right angles to the hooks 06, the other ends of each of the jaws being extended past the pivots 691 and terminating in pins 7 4, which engage in respective cam-slots 75 in the sleeve 71. These jaws gather the wire around the looping-hooks, holding them at the correct distance apart and maintaining them closely together before twisting, thus assisting in securing a good tie. The spindle 68 and sleeve 71 revolve together, the sleeve 71 passing through a bush 76, capable of revolving in the bearing 77, mounted within the bracket 150. A pinion 78 is fitted in a bearing 79, which allows it to revolve when acted on by the segment 80, (shown dotted in Fig. 9%) but prevents any lateral motion. This bearing is supported within a bracket 791, by which the spindle 68 is carried. The spindle 68 passes freely through the pinion 78 and is attached to it by means of a feather, thus allowing of the endwise motion of the spindle 68 within the pinion, the spindle revolving with the pinion when geared by the segment 80, attached to the cam h. On the boss of the pinion 7 8 is formed a concave piece 82, which when the pinion is not in motion fits against the rim of the cam 7t and locks the pinion in a certain fixed position, so that when the spindle is at rest the opening movement of the hooks is vertical and that of the jaws horizontal. A portion of the rim of the cam h is cut away opposite to the segment 80, allowing the pinion to be turned by the same segment, the rim again engaging the concave piece 82 and locking the pinion as soon as the required number of twists have been given the wires. To give the loopinghooks 66, with their attached spindle, and also the sleeve 71, with its cam-slots 75 and catches 70, the necessary lateral motion, grooved collars S3 and 8a are provided attached, respectively, to the sleeve 71 and spindle 68. These collars are engaged by suitable forks S5 86, respectively, in which they are free to revolve. The fork 85 is connected by a suitable link to the lever 87 and the fork 8G to the lever 88, which levers receive motion from the cam g, (see Figs. 1 and 35,) the cam being so formed that the sleeve and spindle are moved forward with the hooks and jaws open, as shown in Fig. 9, until the hooks O6 reach the spindle 09. This movement corresponds with the movement of the cam-rollers in the part of the slots indicated 205 and 206, respectively, Fig. 35. The sleeve is then moved slightly forward relatively to the spindle corresponding to the greater length of the part of the slot 205 over that of the part 206 of the cam g, so that thereby the hooks 66 are forced behind the twisted portion of the wire. The cam then moves the levers and draws the spindle 68 and sleeve 71, with their attached hooks and jaws and wire, across the gap of the machine, where the bottle is wired, this movement corresponding to the movement of the cam-roller in the parts 203 and 204 of the slots in the cam. The part of cam-slot 204. being longer than 203 draws the spindle 68 still farther out of the sleeve 71. This movement of the spindle relatively to the sleeve partly closes the jaws 73 to bring the top wires to the position which allows the capsule-lifter (afterward described) to fall freely. After the bottom wires have been drawn aside by the side hooks (afterward explained) and the bottle raised to wiring position the sleeve 71 moves still farther outward on the spindle 6S and entirely closes the jaws 73. This movement corresponds with the movement of the cam-roller in the part 21a of the cam-slot. The sleeve and spindle then advance slightly toward the bottle-neck, this movement being caused by the parts 212 and 213 of the camslots. The segment 80 then gears with the pinion 7S and revolves the spindle 68 with the sleeve 71 and the attached hooks and jaws, the Wire being twisted between the books 66 and the neck of the bottleand a loop formed around the hooks 60. This twisting movement corresponds in time to the movement of the cam-rollers within the respective parts 210 211 of the cam-slots. The sleeve then draws back. This movement, which corresponds with the part 209 of the cam-slot, opens the hooks and side jaws to their full extent in order to release the loop. The sleeve 71 and spindle 68 then draw back in order to allow the loop room for bending down. This movement corresponds with 207 and 208 of the cam-slots, when the suitable levers, hereinafter described, bend down the loop and the IIO 

